Hello everyone!

I am thinking about buying a TL (WDP/ 5AT/Nav) in next year. I found this community very helpful and learned a lot about TL.
But, Can someone please tell me how's the New TL perform in snow/ice/winter weather?? because I am living in NH, near Boston area, and I do travel to VT a lot to ski and visit freinds. I would like to know how TL drives in snow and how's TCS and other devices works comparing to other cars.
Also. what kind of snow tires and size do you guys use???

Thanks

 

If 05TLs use the same EL42s as 04TLs', you may not like it. If you could upgrade them, you will have no problem in snow/icy conditions. But, since you're living in NH, it's better to have snow tires on, right?

Bridgestone BLIZZAK LM-22 could be the good choice, with the same size.

 

I know that this seems like common sense, but I totally have to agree about the snow tires. I made it through two Pennsylvania winters with my Trans Am (notoriously bad "snow" car) by putting snow tires on all four corners. It got to the point where we would drive my car when it snowed rather than my girlfriend's FWD car with all-seasons. IMHO, M+S is a marketing gimmick for people who live in areas where there *might* be one or two snowy days per year. In NH, I can't imagine not getting a set of dedicated snows.

 

Thanks for the quick reply rets.

Yeah i am def getting snow tires on. Cannot go any where w/o snow tires in this area in winter!!!

 

well everyone knows FWD rocks in the snow. i hear the michelin pilot spots a/s and the falken ziex 112 or something or other are both great and they are all season tires. i'm gettin an 05 TL next May and i'm goin to college in boston and live in nyc so i'll be having to put up with lotsa snow too. good luck!

 

I drive a Volvo 850 turbo right now. I always put 4 good snow tires to prepare BIG snow storms and highway drive in winter. I've seen tons of SUVs stuck or rolled over on Interstate I89, but i've never had problem in my car. So I hope I won't have problem with new TL!!

 

Snow tires are a must. There are 2 blizzaks that will fit the car, buy the speed rated ones. Although they dont offer the amount of traction as the non rated type their performance in the handling department is very good. They also offer very good snow traction. The cost including Acura rims is about 1200. With the blizzaks I would classify the snow performnace as 3.5 out five being and all wheel drive car with snow tires a 5. BTW forget all season tires in your area they simply will not cut it.

 

I haven't had the opportunity to drive my TL in winter, however my experience w/winter tires tells me the tire is more important than the car to which it is mounted. After all, it comes down to those 4 little contact patches, and in slippery conditions, it's all about grip. Have used Michelin Arctin Alpins (325i OK, but squishy handling), Michelin Pilot Alpin (528i H rated, performance oriented, differed little in feel from Conti Extreme Contacts), Gislaved Nord Frost (SAAB 9-5 similar to Pilot Alpins). I purposely avoided models that are not 100% winter compound (i.e. Blizzaks) since once the tire wears, one is left w/ an all-season compound.

Bottom Line: Winter Tires are the only way to go. The Electronic aids only do so much.

 

Yeah i am palnnig to get Michelin pilot spots a/s as soon as soon as i get a new TL. Around my shcool, we get unexpected snow sometimes, so Michelin will give me some security if I don't have ssnow tires on yet. But I am 100% sure that i am getting 4 snow tires for REAL snow storm and such.

Thanks!!

 

Anybody put Conti Extreme Contacts on for 04TL?

 

If you drive in the snow you need winter tires, not all seasons. I would get winter tires for any car I own. All season tires are a marketing ploy to make soccer moms feel better about their safety. With the TL I would defintely recommend them.

If you have the 6MT, then winter tires are a given.

 

TLya's:

I used to live in Exeter, NH for nearly 15 years... I'd say the TL will do just fine. The traction control and FWD keep it out of mischief for the most part. Of course, get dedicated snow tires as there can be a lot of slush, snow and ice in the 9 months of winter there

My only concern would be the uneven/broken pavement that is found in some of the seacoast areas. The relatively stiff chassis/suspension means that it will do fine on smooth roads but becomes unsettled on more "worn" roads. Just keep that in mind, especially on Route 1 near Seabrook. One of the worst roads in the northeast IMO.

BTW, where are you from in NH?

 

Ken1997TL

I am living in Durham, NH. atteing school there. (You know which one )

Yeah Rt 1 could be really bad after a looooooong winter months. :sqnteek:

 

Amen, and the conventional wisdom about FWD being superior to RWD in snow is an oversimplification. Exercise for the reader: equivalent tires on a FWD and on a RWD on an ice-covered surface. Throw each car into a skid. Which is easier to recover?

 

Use a redirection strategy and move to somewhere closer to the equator like Cabo San Lucas or Hawaii.

 

When it snows or rains hard or there might be high winds or hail, my car stays in my garage and I drive my Ranger pickup. Little mulch-getter says my car.

 

Make that "saves my car".

 

A local tire dealer I contacted told me that the EL42s are 'treacherous' in the snow and back in December, he had a flurry of TL owners coming in to trade in their OEM
tires.

 

I've done alot of snow driving (used to live in Northern VT). I don't think the EL42s compare to real snows, but they're better than high performance, summer tires.

 

I'm another big believer in snow tires (and extra rims), particularly Blizzaks.

I've had them on my 94 Integra GS-R and my 98 CL. Both were tanks in the snow.
In fact, someone was driving the GS-R in nearly 2' of snow a few years ago and she said she was able to make it up a hill where SUV's were getting stuck.

I plan on keeping my CL & snows through this winter so my TL hopefully won't see the snow.
Next year I'll get Blizzaks and an extra set of rims from the Tire Rack. It will be $1k well spent.

 

The TL with EL42s is "treachorous" in the snow. I drove a few times this past winter with them (in both light and somewhat heavy snow) and was disgusted at how bad it was. I live near the MA/NH border.

My guess is that the width of the tires plays some part in this. My previous car, a Prelude with 205s was much better. However, even then, I went with dedicated snow tires (Pirelli Snowsports) which were better and were even very good in wet/dry. The drawback with these, I found, were that they caused vibration at about 70mph. They were balanced 3 times with no luck. (Kinda like my TL with the EL42s )

My wife's car, a Lexus IS-300 with Blizzak WS-50s on it is incredible in the snow. The problem with those, however, is you give up dry performance - there is quite a bit of tread squirm.

So, in summary, the TL stinks in the snow (at least with the EL42s) and you should invest in snow tires.